Cubs Parade Could Mean Record For Rail Ridership

By Patrick Smith
A Chicago Transit Authority bus shows some Cubs spirit. CTA officials say Cubs celebration brought a record number of riders.
A Chicago Transit Authority bus shows some Cubs spirit. CTA officials say Cubs celebration brought a record number of riders. Katherine Nagasawa / WBEZ
A Chicago Transit Authority bus shows some Cubs spirit. CTA officials say Cubs celebration brought a record number of riders.
A Chicago Transit Authority bus shows some Cubs spirit. CTA officials say Cubs celebration brought a record number of riders. Katherine Nagasawa / WBEZ

Cubs Parade Could Mean Record For Rail Ridership

By Patrick Smith
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Transit officials estimate more than a million people took the train to get to the Cubs championship parade Friday.

CTA stations were packed with blue-clad fans, watching at-capacity trains go past them while the loudspeakers blared Go, Cubs, Go.

In order to wait on the platforms, parade-goers first had to wait in line to buy passes.

“We have a lot of first time users … so that accounts for the long lines and things like that,” said Chicago Transit Authority spokeswoman Irene Ferradaz.

She did not have exact ridership numbers, but says the Cubs already bested the ridership record set by the Blackhawks.

She says about 919,000 people took the train last Friday, when Wrigley hosted its first World Series game in 71 years.

That broke the previous rail ridership record for the Blackhawks’ 2015 Championship parade. 

Meanwhile, Metra is expecting to break its record of 430,000 riders Friday as well.